John A. Sobrato

Board Chairman and Trustee,

The Sobrato Organization

As founder and principal of The Sobrato Organization, John heads one of
the most successful real estate development organizations in California.
John’s career in real estate dates back to the late 1950s. He began
selling homes in Palo Alto, and while attending Santa Clara University,
John arranged his classes to allow him to work three days a week. After
graduating in 1960, John founded Midtown Realty and specialized in
“Eichler” home re-sales. Building on his residential success, he
expanded into commercial real estate, working with his mother Ann
Sobrato to develop industrial properties nearly a decade before the name
“Silicon Valley” was coined. In 1974, John sold Midtown Realty to focus
on commercial development for the rapidly emerging high technology
industry. The Sobrato Organization has since been responsible for
development and construction of more than 150 office and research &
development facilities, totaling more than 15 million square feet and
10,000 apartment units. While a corporate leader, John is a community
leader—supporting many organizations in both board leadership and
advisor positions, and believing that despite deep and compelling need,
this entire Silicon Valley can thrive.